Crossword Genius

Companion following Oswald is a parasite (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leech

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'parasite' is the definition.
(I know that parasite can be written as leech)

'companion following oswald' is the wordplay.
'companion' becomes 'ch' (Companion of Honour).
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'oswald' becomes 'lee' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ch' after 'lee' is 'LEECH'.

'is a' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leech that I've seen before include "Worm - sponger" , "One who sponges on others" , "Blood-sucking creature" , "one good at sponging" , "One used to bleed" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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